The New Two Rivers Social Enterprise Centre

Two Rivers Social Enterprise Centre - Newent

 

Work is now well underway on the first stage in Two River's ambitious £12 million investment in a major social enterprise project in the picturesque Gloucestershire town of Newent.

Two of Newent's oldest residents, with a combined age of 193, kicked the project off in October to mark the birth of the town's new "Social Enterprise Centre" at Cleeve Mill Business Park.

Guest of honour Evelyn Adamson celebrated her 93rd birthday and was joined by local celebrity centenarian Bert Bullock. So it was a double celebration. Both live independent lives in their own homes - provided by Two Rivers.

 

Mrs Adamson and Mr Bullock, Town Mayor Roger Beard, and children from Glebe Primary School and Newent Community School were all there to view the emerging Two Rivers Social Enterprise Centre.

The Centre will see the three acres site transformed with plans for a 40 apartment extra care development catering for the older generation, eight start up business units, and a new office to accommodate Two Rivers not-for-profit homes operation.

Two Rivers Chief Executive Garry King said the new development was all about investing in the local community and providing a much needed boost to the local economy.

"The Extra Care Centre will provide much needed homes for the growing older population. Unfortunately not everyone is as lively and independent as Bert and Evelyn.

"And at the other end of the scale we have plans to develop start up units for local entrepreneurs, particularly focusing on social enterprise – building businesses that put something back into the local community. 

"The new office is being built to the highest environmental standards, reducing energy costs for the future. We are investing for the future. It will be a BREEAM Excellent. That means it really will put energy saving and the environment at the heart of its design.  

"Building the new office will work out cheaper than renting in the years ahead. The more we can save on running our operation, the more resources we can pump back into the community," Garry said.

The new office is just the launch pad for Two River's exciting plans for the expansion of its not-for-profit socially driven enterprise.

Town Mayor Roger Beard said the Two Rivers Enterprise Centre would bring new opportunities for the town.

"The organisation's community focus and its commitment to supporting the local economy and the environment is just what the town needs," he said.

Gloucester based Britannia Construction is delivering the first phase of the development, building the new office for Two Rivers.

Britannia Managing Director Paul Halfpenny said it was a very exciting project to be involved in.

"Two Rivers have specified the very highest energy saving standards to ensure maximum efficiency in delivering their operation. The new office will be a model of sustainable building. It's great to work to such exacting standards. Two Rivers is really future focused and puts their community first.

"Britannia is a local developer with a strong track record of putting something back into the community. We are doing everything we can to deliver this project with the minimum of impact, and are committed members of the Considerate Constructors national scheme," he said. 

 

For more information on BREAM standards go to:http://www.breeam.org/